Monday, November 16, 2009
A Meeting of Equals
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Niles Independence Day 2025
I played with the settings on my camera. Not perfect but damn, these are the best fireworks photos I've ever taken.

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4 comments:
I agree. I wonder if it was his intention to be extremely humble. Afterall, it is the 'emperor'... but I still worry about Obama's humility. You're right, the heads of state should be considered equals and with Obama's lowering his head below the emperor's, it means in Japanese culture that the emperor is considered the superior. However, the Japanese also greatly respect their elders... so this could be a plausible and excusable explanation.
It's a good thing that the Japanese tend to be understanding of 'gaijin' oopses. :P
I understand the respect and custom part but this isn't a normal circumstance.
Eisenhower and Nixon did the same thing. And bowing indicates respect in Japanese culture, not submission.
And they would have been wrong to do it. I haven't seen Eisenhower do it but I've seen Nixon, and the body posture is only a slight tilt, similar to how the Chinese Premier does it. That is more indicative or respect than what President Obama did. As I said, it should be something that can be reciprocated as equals. The Emperor does not do it.
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